Steelers, Penguins, Phillies trophies displayed together

Harrisburg exhibit shows off current champions in 3 pro sports

July 7, 2009 4:15 PM

From left, the World Series, Vince Lombardi (NFL) and the Stanley Cup (NHL) championship trophies.

Jason Minick/Associated Press

Fans walk past and take photos of the Philadelphia Phillie's World Series Trophy, the Pittsburgh Steeler's Vince Lombardi Trophy and the Pittsburgh Penguin's Stanley Cup Trophy on display in the East Wing Rotunda of the state Capitol.

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HARRISBURG -- You just might call Pennsylvania the "state of champions."

Three trophies marking three recent titles won by Pennsylvania teams were on display together, for the first time, today at the Capitol: the tall, silvery Stanley Cup, won by the Penguins last month; the silvery football of the Vince Lombardi trophy, won by the Steelers in February; and the gold-colored Major League Baseball World Series trophy, won by the Philadelphia Phillies in October.

Among the hundreds of sports fans in a line that snaked its way around the long Capitol hallways were Matt Quigg and his two young daughters, Trinity, 8, and Amie, 6.

"I want to see the trophies!'' shouted Amie, as she passed by the table where they stood side by side by side.

"This is the first time I've seen any of these trophies,'' said Matt Quigg, wearing a No. 43 jersey for Troy Polamalu. Mr. Quigg has long dark hair stretching past his shoulders, something like the hairstyle of his favorite Steeler.

He's from York, 25 miles south of here, and said, "I don't know why but I've been a Steeler fan for years. Pittsburgh is a terrific place.''

He said he's gone to the Steel City for a few hockey and football games. "I love going to the South Side,'' he said. "It's the only place you can go and have fun and not worry about the cops.''

Also in the long line of fans was Andrew Cope of Washington, Pa., who just graduated from Allegheny College.

"I got a call last night from my girlfriend, who lives in Carlisle, about the trophies being on display here,'' said Mr. Cope, who wore a Penguins T-shirt and cap. "I missed the parade Downtown last month so I had to come here. I'm going back tonight because I have to go to work, but I wouldn't miss this.''

Lou and Jama Calabro, who lived in the Mon Valley until moving to Harrisburg four years ago, said they wouldn't have missed this either.

"I painted one wall in our rec room green and white, so it looks like a football field,'' said Mr. Calabro, who wore a black and gold Penguins shirt.

"It's filled with memorabilia and posters, both from the two recent Super Bowl victories and the ones from the '70s,'' said his wife, dressed in a black and gold Steelers shirt.

Bob Rubis, from Clarion, was here with his 19-year-old son, Charlie, and both said they'd been Steeler fans from birth.

"It's from the sperm,'' Bob said. "It passes down from generation to generation. My dad was a diehard fan in the '30s.''

Bob was wearing a No. 39 Willie Parker black and gold jersey, while his son had on the original blue Penguins jersey.

They both said they were thrilled about the football and hockey victories, but Bob sighed, "It will be a while before the Pirates get there (to a title).''

Nearly everyone lined up to have their pictures taken with the three trophies in the background. Included was a Republican Senate aide, Mark Meyer, who works for Sen. John Rafferty, of Montgomery County near Philly.

"I reminded my boss that there are two trophies from Pittsburgh and just one from Philadelphia,'' quipped Mr. Meyer, who grew up in New Castle, Lawrence County.

Gov. Ed Rendell, a former mayor of Philly, helped organize the appearance of the trophies, said his aide, Chuck Ardo.

"It's the first time the trophies have been on display together,'' he said.